Windows 8 was a big step for Microsoft, and rumors have been swirling that its arrival is heralding more than just live-tile interfaces. A report from November indicated that Windows would move to a cheap, annual upgrade cycle called "Blue," not unlike OS X. Now, job postings seem to confirm that yes, Blue exists, and under that name.

According to The Verge, Microsoft will begin shipping cheap updates to Windows every year. The new…
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A posting for a software development engineer in test on the Microsoft Careers site, explicitly references the rumored "Microsoft Blue," stating:

We're looking for an excellent, experienced SDET to join the Core Experience team in Windows Sustained Engineering (WinSE). The Core Experience features are the centerpiece of the new Windows UI, representing most of what customers touch and see in the OS, including: the start screen; application lifecycle; windowing; and personalization. Windows Blue promises to build and improve upon these aspects of the OS, enhancing ease of use and the overall user experience on devices and PCs worldwide.

And it doesn't end there. References to a Windows Phone Blue were dug up by Twitterer @h0x0d point toward a coming unification (at least in part) of the OS, doubtless pushed along by a series of incremental updates rather than any sort of fabled "Windows 9." And sure, Microsoft has been doing not-quite-yearly service packs for a while now, but none of those seemed positioned to completely replace the old OS upgrade cycle like Blue is.

We don't know when exactly Blue will hit-or what it will be called when it does-but incremental updates would definitely reduce the chance of Microsoft catching its users off-guard with another big change-up like Windows 8. And that's great, so long as everyone is happy enough with what they've got. [ZDNet]